Gnosticism

American  

[nos-tuh-siz-uhm] / ˈnɒs təˌsɪz əm /

noun

Christianity.

1. a group of ancient heresies, stressing escape from this world through the acquisition of esoteric knowledge.

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Gnosticism British  

/ ˈnɒstɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. a religious movement characterized by a belief in gnosis, through which the spiritual element in man could be released from its bondage in matter: regarded as a heresy by the Christian Church

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Etymology

Origin of Gnosticism

First recorded in 1660–70; Gnostic + -ism

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Gnosticism

I bought a house there from a chapter of the Order of the Oriental Templars once run by Aleister Crowley, who had his own take on Gnosticism.

From New York Times ● Dec. 14, 2021

Blending the tenets of Buddhism, Gnosticism and Christianity, these consume a good portion of the early chapters of the novel.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 25, 2018

Outside, I take in the scene: street preachers denouncing Gnosticism, a lone banker trying to garrote himself with ticket tape, and the Bull – that gold, beautiful bull – running through the streets like Zeus.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 8, 2015

Since then, I have found hints of this theology in Gnosticism, the Kabbalah and the writings of Nietzsche, Jung and Borges.

From Scientific American ● Nov. 27, 2012

Docetism, with its phantom Christ, and Gnosticism with its antithesis of the just God and the good God, were not likely to satisfy mankind.

From The Conflict of Religions in the Early Roman Empire by T. R. (Terrot Reaveley) Glover

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